The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-27
DIAxIMrLIAN's WIDOW.

An Incident Which slight Hopes of Her
Improvement Are Based.
Gable Special to New York SUM-
During the stay of the King and Queen of the
Belgians in England an incident occurred at the
castle of Bonehout which might be corrooora-
ton of the slight hopes lately entertained of an
ameliosation Of the condition of the unfortunate
Empress Charlotte A few nights ago she had
retired to rest at her usual early hour, and a
young Austrian lady for some time past attached
to her person sat down the piano, and
halfunconsciousy began to play the
Mexican national hymn. Before she had
concluded she startled by seeing the
doors communicating with the sleeping
apartments of the Empress flung open and the
Empress herself. in her night dress. pale as
death, appear the threshold. With pierre
ing cry sho uttered the name OF ''Maxmillian."
and fell to the ground in strong Mysteries. She
once carried back to her he'd, and for a
while It WAS feared that convulsions would en-
sue, but few hours later she had returned to
her usual impassive condition. Still, there Is
evidence of some chord in the clouded intellect
having been touched by association, and so far
the omen may be considered favorable.
1t is well nigh possible for strangers to
catch glimpse of the Empress, except during
her daily exercises in the park beyond which
she never goes, and even then great precautions
are taken that she may not be aware of their
presence Her life is regular TO monotony.
She has grown stouter within the last year, but
otherwise has not altered much. Her face IS
very pale, cold and expressionless; her eyes are
always fixed afar, as if she were seeking in the
distance some vanished phantom. When she
takes exercise she is accompanied by two ladies'
in-waiting. Twelve attached to her serv-
ice. who take duty for week in rota-
tion. They all belong to the Bel
gian arstocracy and perform their func-
tons with untring and admirable devo-
tion. The Empress walks slowly, with short
steps, neither noticing flowers nor scenery. new
stopping in her rounds; only when she dra VS.
near the castle on her way home a gleam OF
pleasure fits across her features as q host of
approach. They arrest her progress and she
watches them for while; then suddenly and
rapidly re-enters the rooms on the ground floor
without having broken the silence during the
whole walk. One of her ladies begins to play
for her--she seems to prefer 'Mignon" to any
other opera-and at certain passages accompan-
les the music with with fmotlon of her head.
Sometimes after she has listened to the piano
for time the Empress opens her lips and dis
courses with certain sequence of ideas on
dress, music the minor events of her daily
life. More important topics do not attract her.
The fire at the Opera Comique elected ne COM
ment. and she did not glance at the papers con-
tanning the details of the disaster with any more
interest than usual Bad weather seems to
annoy her mere than anything else, as 1t inter
fcres with her outdoor exercise. In the open
air she is even quieter, happier. more composed;
within she becomes restless and uneasy. A fav-
orite habit of hers is to look for trfies on the
carpet, and if she picks up pin she ls
pIeasuraby excited. She has no longer the
same horror of all food, which at times prompt
ed her to touch nothing but bread. In mental
arrangement of such long standing any change.
--~y ne hailed thu barbinger of better days.
ard vet it IL difficult 70 believe that a woman
VINO has reached the age of forty will ever
be even partially restored to reason.